Steel hardening and tempering machine.



F. s. FRISBEE & M. H. BAKER.

STEEL HABDENINGAND TEMPERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l5. I906.

Patented May16,1916.

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Q6 WIfNSSES: I N VEN TOR S. ,2 522% mfi b,

' ATTORNEY.

F. S. FRISBEE & M. H. BAKER.

STEEL HARDENING AND TEMPERING MACHINE.

FF ICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1906 1,183,809. Patented May16, 1916.

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ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN S. FRISBEE AND MALCOLM I-I. BAKER, F BOSTON, MASSACHIISETTS, i ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN ELECTRIC PROCESS STEEL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF LIASSACHUSETTS.

STEEL HARD-ENING AND TEMPERING MACHINE.

T 0 all whomit may concern:

Be it known that W6,-FRANKLIN S. FRIS BEE and MALCOLM H. BAKER, citlzens of the United States, and residents of Boston, in

the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steel Hardening and Temper-ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In hardening and tempering thin, fiat steel articles,- the chief difliculties encountered have been uneven heating, or overheating and burning of the steel, distortion or bucklingwhen placed in the cooling and hardening medium, and an uncertain degree of evenness of hardening and tempering. It has usually been the custom to heat such steel between heated metal blocks, under pressure, and 'to cool and harden the same uneven structure.

between chilled blocks, also under pressure. This was to insure a flat and even artlcle,

and was superior' to hardening ina liquid medium, since the latter, by touching the steel atone point first, as the steel was placed in themedium, resulted in distortion.

To efiect the transfer from the heating-to the cooling blocks usually required mechanical contact with the steel, and resulted in In tempering, the steel was usually heated to the proper degree by observing the color of the scale of the oxid formed. and this process required considerable skill and Watchfulness, since the least departure from the correct -degree of heating produced either a too brittle or a too soft article.

It is theobject of the invention to provide a means for hardening and tempering steel,

i especially thin, flat steel articles, automati- 40 cally and homogeneously, which enables the steel to pass successively from a conveyer to A further object isto temper the hardened 7 steel. to the correct degree, and with no necessity of watchfulness and skill, or dependence upon the color of theoxid formation.

A further object is to harden and temper Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1906. Serial No. 339,112.

Patented May 16, 191.6.

the steel without the employment ofmechanical contact, or a carrier, in passing from the heating through the cooling and tempering mediums.

further object is to carry the steel through the operation described automatically and continuously, in order that a large number of articles may be easily andeco nomically handled.

A further object is to provide a, machine of durable qualities, particularly in the heatingportions, of the heating blocks. 4

A further object is to provide means for accurately and quickly noting and governing the temperatureg of the heating blocks, {)he cooling blocks, and the tempering cham-.

In carrying out ourinvention we employ two heating blocks of a highly heat conductive material maintained at a uniformand predetermined temperature,-in order to assure the even distribution of heat, and a consequent even heating of the steel, and we face these blocks with a highly infusible and non-oxidizing metal at the faces in contact with the steel to assure durability and smooth wear of the faces.

In order to maintain the cooling blocks at the desired temperature, and to prevent their heating from the heated steel, we provide the blocks with water jacketed backings, and

face them with a highly heat conductive material which rapidly carries awayv the heat of the steel to the water, and thus p revents a rise in the temperature of the blocks, and assures a rapid cooling and perfect hardening of the steel. IVater jacketed chambers may be placed, if desired, above the cooling heads and tempering chamber, so as to keep the heat in the heating-heads and tempering chamber away from the cooling heads, as much as possible. In order to secure even, accurate, and uniform tempering of the steel, we place the steel, at this stage, in a chamber provided with a heating plate heated from a heated metal tube, of heat conductive material, the heating plate and the metal tube being maintained at a uniform and predetermined temperature.

- In order to avoid mechanical carrying of the steel from one stage to the next, we employ electro-magnets to hold and center the steel between the heating blocks and in the tempering chamber, and we cause the heated steel to fall by gravity from the heating blocks to the cooling blocks, and thence to the tempering chamber. And further, to assure the proper closing of the heating and cooling blocks, and the proper retention of the steel withinthe temperingchamber, we

-- operate the motion of the blocks by electromagnets, the energizing of the magnets being properly timed.

. Inorder to render the entire action auto 'matic, we convey the steel to the heating blocks by a system of electro-magnetic control, and We govern the entire actionlof the .electro-magnets' by a rotating commutator,

which actuates the electro-magnets in the proper manner and at the proper intervals to assure a continuouspassage, of steel articles through i the machine.

- In'order to govern the temperature-of the heating blocks, and of the tempering chamber,'we place a thermostat upon-the blocks and a'thermometer within the chamber, and heat the blocks and chamber by means of a" gas flame, which is easily and accurately regulated, or by a gas air blast. a

' In order to avold too sudden heating of the. steel, We arrange the parts of the ma-' chine so that the steel is subjected to a gradually increasing heat as it passes through the electro-magnetic receptacle orconvey'er to the heating blocks.

" We do not limit our invention'toany prerestrict our invention to the us'e of any spe-' cific sources of heat or cold in operating the cise position, arrangement or number of -magnets or burners in operating the machine, but may. use such as best carry out the purpose of the invention, and we do not heating heads, cooling heads, tempering chamber, and cooling means under the tempering chamber since any suitable forms may be used. I

We have illustrated our invention in the annexed drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a

' planI'view of our improved hardeningand 5 temperingmachine. Fig. 3-is an end view of the machine and'Fig.'4 is a detail vlew of the commutator device governing the electro-magnets, together with the electrical connections. g

In the drawings, 1 and 2 are heating 4 heads formed of solid copper and faced with faces 12, 12 preferably of platinum or other suitable metal.v These heads carry lugs 3, 3, 3, 3, through which pass rods 4, 4. The head 1 is permanently attached to the base plate 16 by a bracket5, and the head 2 is attached to the'rods 4, 4. .These rods pass through guide brackets 6, 6, locatedbehind the head 2 and attached to the plate 16, and carry heads 7, 7.- Co'iled springs 8, 8, located between the heads and the brackets 6, 6,

cause the rods 4, 4, to separate the heating heads 1,2. At the other end'of the rods attached to the back of the magnet, so that i t sets up a constant magnetic field adapted to magnetically arrest and hold asteel'article.

against and Within the area of the face 12 of the heating head 1 and to substantially center. it upon the facex12 of the heating head 1. Gas-burners, consisting of gas tubes- 61, 61, and air tubes 62, 62, are mounted in an upright post 14, which post also supports the magnet 13. These burners heat the heads 1 and 2, without, interference with "the magnets 13 and 64. The head 2 isheated by a single burner consisting of a gas tube 58 andan air tube 59, supported in a bracket 60 attached to the upright post 23 set upon the base 16. The heating heads are sufiiciently large to entirely inclose the steel article while being heated and they thereby protect/it from direct contact with-the air and consequent oxidization of the steel.

The steel articles to be hardened andtempered, shown in this particular instance as thin, flat, uniform steel blanks, are placed in a receptacle or conveyer 17, composedof brass or copper, or other non-magnetic material, bymeans of an opening,19 in the top of the receptacle. This receptacle 17 is attached to the iron core of an electro-magnet 21, the wire of the magnet appearing at'22, and the core being mounted in the post 23-.

The receptacle 5 17 also carries, .i'n'the end opposite to the opening 19,; an opening 18,

of a width sufiicient to permit the passage of one of the steel articles at a time, and provided, if desired, with means for vary .ing'the size of the opening, so as to permit the passage of articles of Various sizes. This op'enin 18 is so located that steel passing .througi it' falls directly down between the heating heads 1, 2. The electroemagnetic field set up'by the magnet 21 attracts the steel article nearest themagnet and draws it to'the end of the receptacle over the opening 18. the next one, and in thismanner the magnetism is transmitted throughout the entire line of steel articles contained within the receptacle, drawing them allover toward the magnet 21. When the current flowing throu h the wire 22 is interrupted, the magnetic eld cease's,' and the single steel article over the opening 18 falls through the opening and down between the heating heads 1,

,2, where it is magnetically arrested, held against and within the area of the face 12 of This steel article in turn attracts the heating head 1 by the magnet 64 and. I

substantially centered upon and in contact with the face 12 of the heating head 1 by heated to the temperature of the heads, the.

the magnetic force of the magnet 64, the heating heads being closed and held'firmly by the action of the electro-magnet 13, after the steel article has been arrested and held against the face 12 of the'heating head 1 by the magnet 64. When the steelartlcle-ls circuit through the magnet 13 isinterrupted,

the heads separate through the action of the spring 8, and the' steel article, being now heated to a d egree at which it is magnetically inert, is no longer held'in position by the magnet 64-but falls away from-the heating heads, through an opening 28' in the 15' base 16.

In order to make and break the circuit through the magnet wire 22 of the-magnet 21, we place a contact point 9 upon the head 7 of one of the rods 4, and attach an upright spring strip 10 to the base 16 carrying a second contact point 66 adapted to engage with 'the'point' 9 when the heads 1, 2, are

separated, andto disengage from the-point when the heads come together. 'By this arrangement a new steel blank is drawn into position over the opening 18 in the receptacle 17, whenever the heads are brought together, and is freed tofall down between the heads whenever they are separated, thus rendering the passing of the steel blanks to the heads automatic, it being only necessary tokeep a sufiicient number of blanksin the receptacle.

The base 16 is composed of some non-heat conducting material, such as fire clay, to prevent the downward transmission of heat,

and carries posts 56, 56, 56, 56, attached-to the base by nuts 57, 57, 57, 57, these posts extending down to a second base 43. On 40 this base is mounted a hollow head 31 by means of a bracket 39, and

head 67 is carried by rods'35,35, which pass heads 37,37, and springs adapted to separate and maintainopen the heads, when the magnet .is decnerglzed. An

which operates to endinto a hollow through guide pieces 34, 34, attached-to the head 31 and also through brackets 68, 68, set upon the base 43. These rods'also carry 36, 36, which are electro-magnet 40 is mounted on the base 43,

38. In order to maintain'the'heads 31, 67,

at the proper cooling temperature, the faces 33, 33, are composed preferably of silver or copper, these metals being ofthe highest heat conductivity, and are provided with inlet and outlet tubes 70, 71, 72, 73, whereby a continuous passage of cold water may be maintained behind the faces.

Posts 59, 59, 59, 59, pass'from the base '43 to a base 67 below, upon which is mounted a bracket 54' carrying a horizontal cop per tube .51. This tube is expanded at one chamber 49, open at the front and having a; heating plate 50 at its the chamber at the head burner 74, may as desired, be placed above or below the magnet 52. The degree of heat mometer 55 set in a bracket 7 5,. 76 in the base of the chamber I mutator revolves. a secondhollow close the heads 31, 37' when energized-by attracting the armature.

good heat conductor,

' with wire-53 carrying an electric current.

A. Bunsen burner 74 is mounted upon the base '57, which heats the tube-51 and thereby of the tube. The

within this chamber is noted upon a ther- An opening permits the passage of the steel article from the chamber when thecircuit of the magnet 52 is interrupted, and an opening in the base 57 allowsthe-steel article to fall through the base and into a receptacle 78. containing a cooling liquid, the receptacle appearing-at 75 and resting upon a foundation base 7 9, the I foundation base suppo-rtingthe entire super- I structure bymeans of posts 60, 60, 60, 60.

I The coinmutatorSO is mounted upon the base 81 by supports 82, 82, and is operated by a-belt 84-drivenb any suitable means,

such as a motor, or c ockwork. This 'commutator carries three separate faces of vary-- ing diameter, 85, 86, 87, covered with facing I 91, 92, 93, are supported in a post 94 by bear against'the faces 85, 86, 87,'asthe com These brushes are suitably connected to the electro-magnets' 13, 40, and 52, and also tov a source of electrical supply 98, so that the magnets are ener- 10o strips of' metal 88, 89,90. Metal brushes.

,means' of insulating strips 95, 96, 97,. and

gized at the proper intervals; to render the passage of steel. articles through the machinefiautomatic, when the commutator isrevolved at the correctspeed. v

In order'to partially heat the steel artiand thereby improve the quality of the hardened steel articles, we compose the reclesbefore they reach the heating blocks,

ceptacle or conveyer 17 of copper, or other and thus cause the receptacle to absorb suflicient heat from the gas burners .to gradually heat the steel articles as they pass through it.

In Fig. 4, showing the details ofthe commutator, and the electrical connections, the

- source of electrical supply appears at 98,

and the shaftupon which the commutator revolves at 99.

The operation of ".our improved steel hardening and tempering machine is as fol-' lows :-When the receptacle 17 is'filled with; steel articles and" the electrical connections established, the electro-magnet 21 draws the steel articles over toward the opening 18, and upon the interruption'o'f the circuit in the magnet 21 a single steel article falls down between the heads 1, 2, where it is caught and centered by the magnet 64. The

revolution of the commutator then energizes the magnet 13 and the heads are closed, gripping the steel article firmly, heating and flattening it. The heads 1, 2, ne -t open and the heated steel articlegyvhich is now ma gnetically inert, falls down through the opening .article falls through the openin down to the open end of the chamber in the 28 and is mechanically caught and held by the closing of the cooling heads 31, 67, where it is suddenly cooled. The cooling heads thenseparate, and the hardened steedll copper tube 51, into whichit is drawn and held on the heating plate 50 by the action of the magnet 52. This magnet retains the steel article in the chamber until it is heated to the proper tempering heat, when the magnet 52 is deenergized, and the steel article, now tempered properly, falls through the opening 76 into the receptacle 7 8. The steel articles are delivered successively to the heating heads 1 and 2 by means of the opening and closing of theelectrical circuit through the magnet 21, which is-controlled by the opening and closing of the heating heads 1 and 2 and the consequent making and breaking of the circuit by the contact points 9 and 66. It may be desirable for some steel articles to use a tempering bath instead of the tempering chamber 51, in

which case the electro-magnet 52 operating the tempering chamber may be disconnected by an electrical switch or other'suitable means, and a tempering bath placedin the receptacle 78, then the steel article passand tempering steel.

of the heating heads I The degree of Heat -may be noted by any suitable thermostatic device attached to the heads, and the proper heat obtained by regulating the intensity of the gas burners.

The various magnets used in connection with the receptacle, heating heads and tempering chamber may be Water cooled, if desired.-

The proper timing of the passage of steel disconnected from electrical chamber only, if so desired, as is' articles through the machine, and the proper intervals of their retention in the various heating and cooling mediums, is regulated by the speed of the commutator, and the relative lengths and positions of the contact strips 88, 89, 90.

, The operation of the commutator is as follows :-The brush 91 first makes contact with the strip 88, closing the circuit through the magnet 13, and thus closing the heating heads 1, 2, upon a steel article, the steel article having descended from the receptacle 17. The brush 92 next leaves the strip 89, breaking the circuit of the magnet 10 and allowing the cooling heads to open. The brush 93 next leaves the strip 90, opening the circuit of the tempering chamber magnet 52. As the revolution continues, the brush 91 leaves the strip 88, opening the heads 1, 2, and allowing the heated steel article to fall down between the cooling .heads, where it is caught by the closing of the heads, which'is caused by the brush 92 making contact with the strip 89. The interval between the opening of the heating heads and the closing of the cooling heads is accurately timed, as indicated by the angular distance between the dotted lines 100, 101, so that the steel article is accurately gripped between the cooling heads. As the revolution of the commutator continues, the brush- 92 leaves the strip 89, the cooling heads open, and the steel article falls, and is caught and centered by the magnet 52, which has been energized by the making of the contact between the brush 93 and the strip 90. The steel article is thereby held within the tempering chamber until the contact breaks, when it falls into the receptacle 78. In the meantime the circuit through the magnet 21 has been broken by the sepa-- ration of the contact points 9, 66, and a new steel article has fallen down between the heating'heads. Theintervals of action of the various magnets governed. by the commutator are indicated by the angular dis 'tances between the dotted lines 100, 101, 102,

in Fig. 1. By this method the speed, time of heating and cooling, the steel articles to the machine, is accomplished with mathematical precision by the adjustment of'the elements,-speed of commutator, length and position of contact strips, and adjustment of contact brushes, and it is only necessary to watch the thermostats indicating the degree of heat of the heating heads, the thermometer showing the heat of the tempering chamber, and to keep the-receptacle supplied with steel articles.

"@ur object in facing the heating heads preferably with platinum is because this metal does not oxidize at the high temperature' used; \Ve do not limit our invention, however, to the use of platinum faces on the heating heads, nor to the use of silver faces and the feeding of 0n the cooling heads, but prefer using platinum and silver, because they are the metals best adapted for the particular use in each case and give the best results. Our object in facing the cooling heads with silver or copper is to rapidly carry away to the Water the heat of the steel articles. Silver is particularly adapted for this purpose since it is highest in heat conductivity. It is needful to cool the heated steel articles as rapidly as possible in order to secure the best hardened product.

We claim as our invention 1. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, magnetic means adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and a tempering chamber, electromagnetic means for operating the said receptacle, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the heating heads and tempering medium until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means for producing these mediums, and means adapted to permit the steel to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber.

2. In a. machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, heating heads composed of ahighly heat conductive material, cooling heads composed of a highly heat conductive material, means for main taining a circulation of cool liquid through the said cooling heads, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, means'adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, and magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature.

3. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel, heating heads, cooling heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the heating' heads and tempering medium until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means adapted to permit the steel to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and heating and cooling means for producing the heating, cooling and tempering mediums.

4. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain steel articles, heating heads, cooling heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to cause the steel articles to move from one end to the other of the receptacle. means to permit the steel articles to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber. magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel articles by magnetic force automaticallv and successively in the said heating heads and tempering chamber until every portion of the steel articles is heated to a predetermined temperature, means for heating the heating heads and tempering chamher, and means for cooling the cooling heads.

5. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain steel articles. heating heads, cooling heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to cause the steel articles to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, means adapted to permit the steel articles to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means for heating the said heads. magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold'the steel in contact with the heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, cooling heads, means adapted to permit the steel articles to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means for cooling the said heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel in contact with a heated tempering medium in the tempering chamber until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means for heating the said tempering medium in the said tempering chamber, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, and means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads.

6. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle for holding a quantity of the steel articles to be hardened and tempered. heating heads of a highly conductive material, means for heating the said heads, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature and the steel thereby adapted to be homogeneously hardened, means for relatively moving the said heating heads, cooling heads composed of a highly heat conductive material, means for cooling the said heads, means for relatively moving the said heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion is heated to a predetermined temperature, means for heating the said chamber, a cooling medium, and means adapted to permit the steel articles to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber.

7.- In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain steel articles, an electro-magnet located at one end of the said receptacle, a

slot in-the base of the said receptacle and adapted to cause the steel articles to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, this slot being located at the end of the re ceptacle which carries the electro-magnet, and also being ofa width sufiicient to permit the passage-of a single steel article, heating heads composed of a highly heat conductive material; magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature and the steel thereby adapted to be homogeneously hardened,

means for opening the said heatin heads, means for relatively closing the said heating heads, a contact make and break device operated by the motion of the said heads, and governing the energizing of\the electromagnet of the holding receptacle, cooling heads consisting of chambers carrying a continuous supply of a cooling liquid and composed of a h ghly heat conductive material, means for opening the said cooling heads, means for relatively closing the said cooling heads, a tempering chamber composed of a highly heat conductive material, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion is heated to a predetermined 8. In a -machine for automatically'har dening and tempering steel, heating heads composed of a highly heat conductive material, cooling heads composed of a highlyhe'at conductive materi 1, means for maintaining a circulation'of cool liquid through the said cooling'heads, means for opening and closing the said heating heads relatively, and means for opening and closing the said cooling heads relatively. r

9. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a heated recepin the said receptacle from a point of minitacle, means for gradually heating the steel mum to a suitable point of maximum heat,

means for causing the said steel to move through the said receptacle and to be released therefrom, heating heads composed of a highly heat conductive material, means for heating the said heads, cooling heads composed of a highly heat conductive material, means for cooling the said heads, a

tempering chamber, a heated tube for conducting the heat to the said tempering chamber, and means for heating the said tube.

10. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, heating surfaces, cooling surfaces and a heating chamber, means for heating the said surfaces, means for separating the said surfaces,

means for closing the said surfaces upon the netic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, a cooling medium, and a source of electrical supply connected to the various electro-magnets through a suitable commutator in such a manner as to render the passage of the steel through the machine automatic.

11. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel, heating heads, cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, means adapted to open the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined 'temperature, means adapted to permit the steel to fall from the receptacle to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and a commutator, so controlling and operating in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling 1sasoo dening and tempering steel, heating heads and a tempering chamber, and magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the heating heads and a heated body in the temper- Ang chamber until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature.

13. In a machlne'for automatically hardening and tempering steel, heating heads,-

cooling heads, atempering chamber, means adapted to open the said heating heads and cooling heads, means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, and magnetic means adapted to arrest. and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the heating heads and a heated body in the tempering chamber until every portion of the steel is heated to apredetermined temperature. 1

14. Ina machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, heating heads, cooling heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined--temperature, a heated body in the said tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in'the tempering chamber in contact with the said heated body until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature.

, 15. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, heating heads,

cooling heads, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of a receptacle, means adapted to permit the steel to fall to and from the said heating heads, cooling 'heads and tempering chamber, and magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads and tempering medium until every portion ofthe steel ,is

heated to a predetermined temperature.

16. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel. an electro-magnet located at one end of the said receptacle and adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted. to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, a tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the-tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined tem- .perature, means for heating the said heatmg heads and tempering chamber, means for cooling the said cooling heads, and a commutator, 'so connected to the various electro-magnets controlling and operatlng in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and to a source of electrical sup ply, as 'to render automatic the operation of the machine.

17. In a machine forautomatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel, an electro-magnet'located at one end of the said receptacle and adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads, atempering chamber, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to close the said heating heads and-cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of' the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means adapted to permit the steel to fall from the receptacle to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and'an electrical rotating commutator, together with means for operating the said commutator, so connected to the said electro-magnets operating in connection with the receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and to a source of electrical supply, as to render automatic the operation of the machine.

"18. Ina machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel, an electro-magnet 1ocated at one end of the said receptacle and ing in the base of said receptacle adjacent to the electro-magnet, heating heads, cooling heads and a tempering chamber, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means adapted. to permit the steel to fall from the receptacle to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means for heating the said heating heads and tempering chamber and cooling the said cooling heads, and a commutator, so connected to the electro-magnets operating in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and to a source of electrical supply, as to render automatic the operation of the machine.

19. Ina machine'for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel provided with an electro-magnet located at one end of the said receptacle, and adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, an opening in the base of said receptacle adjacent to the electro-magnet, means for varying the size of said opening, heating heads, cooling heads, and a tempering chamber, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means adapted to permit the steel to fall from the receptacle to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means for heating the said heating heads and tempering chamber and cooling the said cooling heads, and acommutator, together with means foradjusting the said commutator, so connected to the various electro-magnets controlling and operating in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and to a source of electrical supply, as to render automatic the operation of the machine.

20. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel, magnetic means adapted to cause the steel to more from one end to ,the other of the receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, electrical means for operating the said electro-magnets of the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means adapted to permit the steel to fall from the receptacle to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means for heating the said heating heads and tempering chamber and cooling the said cooling heads, means for cooling the said electro-magnets operating the receptacle, heating heads and tempering chamber, and a commutator, together with means for adjusting the said commutator, so connected to the various electro-magnets controlling and operating in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, and to a source of electrical supply, as to render automatic the operation of the machine.

21. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, receptacle to contain the said steel, an electro-magnet located at one end of the said receptacle and adapted to cause the steel to move from one end to the other of the receptacle, heating heads and cooling heads, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, electromagnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined tempera- ,ture, a tempering chamber, electro1nagnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature. means adapted to permit the steel to fall from the receptacle to and from the said heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamber, means for heating the said heating heads and tempering chamber, means for cooling the said cooling heads, means for determining and regulating the temperature of the heating heads and the tempering chamber, and a commutator, so connected to the various electro-magnets controlling and operating in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and temperlng chamber, and to a source of electrical supply, as to render automatic the operation of the machine.

22. In a machine for automatically hardening and tempering steel, a receptacle to contain the said steel provided with an electro-magnet located at one end of the said receptacle and adapted to cause the steel to move through the receptacle and to'be released therefrom, an opening inthe base of said receptacle adjacent to the-electro-magnet, means for varying the size of said opening, heating, heads, cooling heads and a tem pering chamber, means adapted to open and normally hold apart the said heating heads and cooling heads, magnetic means adapted to close the said heating heads and cooling heads, electro-magnetic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in contact with the said heating heads until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, means adapted to netic means adapted to arrest and hold the steel by magnetic force in the tempering chamber in contact with a heated body until every portion of the steel is heated to a predetermined temperature, and a commutator, together with means for adjusting the said commutator, so connected to the various electro-magnets controlling and operating in connection with the said receptacle, heating heads, cooling heads and tempering chamher. and to a source of electrical supply, as to render automatic the operation of the machine. V

23. In tempering apparatus, a heater having a metal-blank conducting passage therethrough, means to arrest temporarily a metal-blank article within the passage, and means to raise the temperature of the heater exterior to the passage.

24. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising the steel blanks to a predetermined high temperature by conduction from heated bodies maintained at the desired temperature, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said heated bodies until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them.

25. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising the steel blanks to the necessary high temperature by'conduction from previously-heated solid bodies maintained at a substantially uniform temperature, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated bodies until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them by conduction from solid bodies of sufficient mass as to be substantially unaffected in temperature by contact with the blanks being treated.

26. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising the steel blanks to a moderately high temperature, subsequently raising them to a higher temperature by means of conduction from a previously-heated solid body, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated body until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them;

27. The metho of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising them to a moderately high temperature, subsequently raising them to a higher temperature by conduction from a previously-heated solid conductor, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previouslyheated solid conductor until every portion of the said blanks is heated toa predetermined temperature, and then chilling them.

28. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising them to a moderately high temperature, subsequently confining them, raising them to a higher temperature, and holding them by magnetic force when so confined until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them.

29. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising them to a moderately high temperature, subsequently confining them, raising them to a higher temperature, and holding them by magnetic force when so confined until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them While confined under pressure.

30. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in heating them to a predetermined temperature by means of a previously-heat d solid body, holding the steel blanks in contact with the said previouslyheated body until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling'them by contact with cold surfaces between which they are held stationary under pressure upon substantially their entire surfaces.

31. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising them to a high temperature by means of a previouslyheated solid conductor, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated solid conductor until every portion is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them while stationary by conduction from a cold body.

32. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in heating them by means of a previously heated solid conductor, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contactwith the said previously-heated solid conductor until every portion is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them while stationary by contact with a cold metal surface.

33, The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising them to a high temperature by contact with a previouslyheated solid conductor, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated solid conductor until every portion is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them between cold surfaces.

34. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising them to a predetermined temperature by contact with a previously-heated solid conductor, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated solid conductor until every portion is heated to a predetermined temperature, subjecting them to a blow with a cold metal piece, and chilling them by contact with the said metal piece. K

85. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in heating them by contact between previously-heated solid surfaces, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previouslyheatcd solid surfaces until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature. and-then chilling them.

36, The method of hardeningsteel blanks,-

consisting in raising the steel blanks to a moderately high temperature, subsequently confining them between suitable hot surfaces, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said hot surfaces until every portion of the said blanks is heated to i the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said hot surfaces until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and chilling them.

38. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in raising .them to a moderately high temperature, subsequently confining them between suitable hot surfaces, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said hot surfaces until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and chilling them between cold surfaces.

39. The method of hardening thin steel blanks. consisting in heating the steelblanks by conduction from a previously-heated solid body maintained at a substantially uniform temperature, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force incontact with the said previously-heated solid body until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and chilling them.

40. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in heating the steel blanks by contact with a. previously-heated solid conductor, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated solid conductor until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling While held stationary under pressure between cold surfaces maintained at a substantially uniform temperature.

41. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in heating and chilling the steel blanks b conduction from solid metallic bodies eac 1 of which is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature necessary to effect the heating and chilling operations, and holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said heated, solid metallic bodies until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a prede-- termined temperature.

42. The method of hardening thin steel blanks. consisting in heating and chilling the blanks by conduction from solid metallic bodies of such size or mass as to be substantially unaffected in temperature by contact with the blanks being treated, and holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said heated. solid metallic bodies until every portion of thesaid blanks is heat-' ed to a predetermined temperature.

43. The method of manufacturing steel blanks, consisting in stamping the blanks from unhardened sheet metal, heating them to the necessary hardening temperature by means of a previously-heated solid conducfrom soft sheet metal, heating them by conduction from heated, solid metallic bodies, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said heated. solid metallic bodies until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and chilling them between cold surfaces.

45. The method of hardening thin steel blanks,*consis ting in heating them by conduction from previously-heated solid bodies maintained at a substantially uniform temperature, holding the steel blanks by magnetic force in contact with the said previously-heated bodies until every portion of the said blanks is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then chilling them by contact with metal bodies maintained at the necessary low temperature.

.46. The method of hardening thin steel blanks, consisting in confining the steel blanks and raising them to the necessary high temperature by conduction from and confining them by previously-heated solid bodies maintained at a substantially uniform high temperature. holding the steel .solid bodies maintained at the necessary low temperature.

FRANKLIN S. FRISBEE. MALCOLM H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

GLAoYs L. RAZAR, Emma C. BIoKroRn. 

